Dust storms, blowouts, fires and brake failure

Key points

1. In a dust storm, immediately check traffic and begin slowing down; do not wait until visibility is too poor to pull off.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle and begin slowing down. Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 55

2. In a severe dust storm, drive completely off the highway and do not stop in the travel or emergency lane.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “Drive completely off the highway. • Stop as far to the right as possible. • Do not stop in the travel lane or in the emergency lane.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 55

3. Once stopped in a dust storm, turn off your lights, take your foot off the brake, and stay buckled in the vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “Turn off your lights and take your foot off the brake. • Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 55

4. In a tire blowout, hold the wheel tightly, keep straight, ease off the gas and do not brake.

   Source: Handbook p. 68

   “Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep your vehicle going straight. • Ease off the gas pedal; do not apply the brakes.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 68

5. If your vehicle catches fire, pull off quickly, shut off the ignition and get everyone away; call 911.

   Source: Handbook p. 68

   “If you have a fire, pull quickly off the road, shut off the ignition to cut electrical power and get all passengers away from the car. Call 911.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 68

6. Do not use water on a gasoline fire; it spreads the flames.

   Source: Handbook p. 68

   “Do not use water if gasoline is burning since this will spread the flames.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 68

7. If the engine overheats, never open the radiator cap while it is hot.

   Source: Handbook p. 68

   “Opening the radiator cap while the engine is hot may allow steam to escape and cause severe burns.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 68

8. Without antilock brakes, pump the brakes rapidly if they fail; never pump antilock brakes.

   Source: Handbook p. 69

   “Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If a vehicle does not have antilock brakes: • • Pump the brakes rapidly.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 69

9. If your headlights fail, try the high and low beam switch first.

   Source: Handbook p. 69

   “Try the high beam/low beam switch. This may restore normal function.”
   Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 69

10. If an animal is not yet on the road, do not honk, since that may startle it into your path.

    Source: Handbook p. 70

    “If the animal is not yet on the road, do not sound your horn, as that may startle the animal and cause it to run out in front of you.”
    Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Handbook p. 70

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Arizona practice test

1. 1. When an Arizona dust storm reduces visibility, what should a driver do first?

   1. Check surrounding traffic and begin slowing down
   2. Stop immediately in the travel lane
   3. Turn on high beams and maintain speed
   4. Accelerate until the storm is behind the vehicle
   Show answer

   Check surrounding traffic and begin slowing down. The dust-storm procedure begins with checking traffic around the vehicle and immediately slowing down. The manual warns drivers not to wait until poor visibility makes pulling off difficult, so acceleration and maintaining speed move in the wrong direction. Stopping in the travel lane creates a hazard for approaching traffic. The practical cue is early action: scan first, reduce speed, and look for a safe way off the roadway before the dust becomes opaque. This is the opening step before the separate severe-storm parking instructions.

2. 2. In a severe Arizona dust storm, what should a stopped driver do with the vehicle's lights?

   1. Use high beams and keep the brake pedal pressed
   2. Flash the headlights continuously
   3. Turn off the lights and take a foot off the brake
   4. Leave the headlights on and sound the horn
   Show answer

   Turn off the lights and take a foot off the brake. During the severe-dust response, the manual directs the driver to turn off the vehicle's lights and remove a foot from the brake. That reduces the chance that visible lights will guide another motorist toward a stopped vehicle. High beams, continuous flashing, or a brake light glowing through the dust contradict the listed procedure. The lighting instruction belongs with the other Pull Aside, Stay Alive steps: get completely off the roadway, remain in the vehicle with belts buckled, and wait for the storm to pass.

3. 3. If a vehicle without antilock brakes suddenly loses braking power, what should the driver try first?

   1. Release the steering wheel
   2. Turn off the ignition while moving
   3. Pump the brakes rapidly
   4. Pull the parking brake fully and hold it locked
   Show answer

   Pump the brakes rapidly. For a vehicle without antilock brakes, the Arizona manual says to pump the brakes rapidly because this may build enough pressure to stop the vehicle. The procedure is different for ABS, which should not be pumped. Releasing the steering wheel removes control, turning off the ignition can create new problems, and locking the parking brake may cause a skid. If pumping fails, slowly apply the parking brake while holding its release so it can be eased off if the rear wheels lock.

Source: the Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Section 6: Handling Emergencies. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.